Bioscientifica Proceedings

This review attempts to integrate available data on embryo-maternal communication during maternal recognition of pregnancy and implantation in the pig. Progesterone (P4) is an essential hormone that makes the uterus receptive to accept conceptuses for implantation and subsequent placentation. As well as P4, the receptive stage of the endometrium is further primed by paracrine factors secreted by the conceptus prior to and during implantation. Oestro...

Inhibition of luteolysis and establishment of pregnancy in pigs results from oestrogen secretion by the conceptuses and requires progesterone produced by the corpus luteum (CL). An integral part of maternal recognition of pregnancy in the pig is the redirection of prostaglandin (PG) F2α,secretion from endocrine (blood) to exocrine (uterus) direction and an increase of PGE2 synthesis in both the endometrium and conceptus. Uterine and conceptus ...

Extended exposure of progesterone and conceptus estrogen influences the vascular compartment of the uterus and expression of many factors, such as prostaglandins (PGs), growth factors, extracellular matrix and adhesion molecules, cytokines and transcription factors. One of the supportive mechanisms by which the conceptus inhibits luteolysis is by changing PG synthesis in favor of luteoprotective PGE2. Alteration in PG synthesis may result from increased PGE synthase (mPG...